Just Another Dude w/ Aaron Love | Co-Host of Ones Ready and The War Room Podcast

In this intimate and candid conversation, Aaron Love, a recently retired Air Force Pararescueman, shares his challenging journey transitioning from a 22-year military career to civilian life with his friend Carey Kight. Aaron opens up about the profound mental and emotional shifts required to adapt to a world without the structure, purpose, and camaraderie that defined his military experience. He emphasizes the humbling process of going from being a highly skilled operator and leader to feeling like a novice in his new civilian role, highlighting the importance of managing expectations and being brutally honest with oneself during this transition.

Aaron details his experience with the Special Operations Transition Foundation (SOTF), crediting the organization with saving his life by helping him navigate the complexities of civilian job searches and workplace dynamics. He describes the lengthy interview process for his current position, revealing the stark differences between military and civilian hiring practices. Aaron stresses the need for veterans to recognize that their military accomplishments, while valuable, do not automatically translate to civilian success, and that humility and a willingness to learn are crucial in this new chapter of life.

Throughout the conversation, Aaron and Carey explore the broader implications of veteran transitions, touching on the importance of maintaining connections with the military community while adapting to civilian life. They discuss the responsibility veterans have in accurately portraying both the challenges and rewards of military service to the next generation. Aaron’s parting advice to fellow veterans is poignant: resist cynicism, maintain hope, and actively engage with your local community. His journey serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and adaptability required of those who transition from the highly specialized world of special operations to civilian life.

This episode is sponsored by Go Pills. Use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/

http://x.com/veteranmade.ck

https://www.instagram.com/aaron_loves_america/

https://x.com/AaronLuvsMerica

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Donate - VetBiz

When you give to VetBiz, you help Veterans do more than start businesses—you help them build legacies. Your donation fuels training, mentorship, ...
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About - VetBiz

Our Board of Directors provides strategic oversight and guidance to ensure VetBiz fulfills its mission and serves the Veteran business community ...
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Accountability Drives Performance w/ Dan Goldenberg | President of Call of Duty Endowment

The Call of Duty Endowment stands apart in the veteran employment space by deploying an aggressive, business-driven system to vet, coach, and hold accountable the non-profits it funds to ensure only the highest-performing organizations are available to junior enlisted veterans seeking meaningful careers. With over 44,000 veteran-serving organizations in the U.S. alone, the Endowment’s Seal of Distinction is earned through a rigorous, data-driven process: applicants must prove, with hard numbers, their effectiveness in placing veterans into high-quality jobs, their cost efficiency, and their organizational integrity. This isn’t a one-time check. CODE — in partnership with Deloitte — conducts ongoing audits and only those who consistently deliver results receive continued funding and support. If a grantee fails to meet placement or quality targets, they’re coached intensively; if they still fall short, CODE moves on, scaling up only those partners who prove their impact year after year.

For transitioning veterans, especially junior enlisted, this relentless vetting and accountability means you never have to navigate the chaos of career transition alone or risk wasting time with underperforming organizations. Don’t get lost in a sea of 40,000 choices or settle for generic advice: the Call of Duty Endowment has already done the hard work of finding, funding, and improving the best. You owe it to yourself to leverage these resources because your service deserves more than a transition, it deserves a launchpad to a truly meaningful civilian career.

Visit the Call of Duty Endowment’s website, connect with a vetted partner, and take control of your next mission.

Episode Sponsors:

• VM Merch
• Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order.
• True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/

http://x.com/veteranmade.ck

https://www.instagram.com/callofdutyendowment/

https://x.com/CODE4Vets

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Wilson Bautista Jr. MBA, MSISM, CISSP, PMP, CMMC Lead CCA's Post - LinkedIn

... VetBiz #PitchCompetition #VeteranEntrepreneurs #SupportOurVets #TampaBay #JunCyber.
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Ep. 242: Starting a VC-Backed Laundry Business and then Zillow for Franchises with Alex Smereczniak

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Alex is one of the most impressive entrepreneurs I've had the chance to speak with.  

Before launching Franzy, Alex co-founded 2ULaundry and LaundroLab, where he helped scale the business from a college side hustle into a multi-unit franchise brand with over 100 franchise licenses sold and a rapidly growing network of stores.

He then started Franzy, basically "Zillow for franchises".  It's a super impressive product, much needed, and he is the guy to do it.  

Tune in to learn more from this very smart entrepreneur. 

READ MORE 👁️ https://bit.ly/3EwyXcV

Resume Tips for Veterans Write to the future.Resume writing is not about rehashing your ...

VetBiz Live's post. VetBiz Live profile picture. VetBiz Live. Feb 5, 2018
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Tell the Truth w/ Michael "Rod" Rodriguez | CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation

Episode 148 features Michael “Rod” Rodriguez, CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.

We dive headlong into the tangled realities of the GWOT, refusing to shy away from its complexities or the ways participation in such a conflict can both expand and restrict one’s worldview. He lays bare the war’s multidimensional nature which spans continents, cultures, and generations and challenges listeners to confront the uncomfortable truth that even those who lived it can struggle to define or fully understand it. Rodriguez insists on telling the whole story, not just of soldiers in uniform, but also the intelligence officers, contractors, and families whose sacrifices are often overlooked. He makes it clear: the GWOT is not a series of isolated battles, but a single, ongoing, global campaign that demands a new kind of national reflection and commemoration.

The episode is a masterclass in how one career can prepare you for another. Rod draws a direct line from his experience as a Green Beret, where learning to communicate across cultures and lead diverse teams prepared him for his current mission: navigating the labyrinth of congressional politics and federal bureaucracy to build a national memorial. He is blunt about the emotional toll and the necessity of vulnerability, arguing that only by embracing the full weight of these experiences can we hope to create something lasting and true. Listeners are pushed to reconsider their assumptions, to recognize that service comes in many forms, and to see that the skills honed in service are not just transferable, but essential for tackling the next great challenge.

Episode Sponsors:

• VM Merch
• Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order.
• True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/

http://x.com/veteranmade.ck

https://www.instagram.com/monsterzdad/

https://www.instagram.com/gwotmf/

https://x.com/gwotmf

https://x.com/monsterzdad

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Ep. 233: What Happens When You Buy a Business and It Fails? Real Talk on Failing with Air Force Veteran Jed Morris

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I have had a lot of guests on the show to talk about buying a small business.  From lenders, buyers, and investors- everyone seems to be saying, "Go buy a business!  You will make a ton of money and can't go wrong!"  

Well, today's guest is a story of what happens when it does go wrong. 

Jed Morris is an Air Force veteran who bought a landscaping business and then quickly bought another.  He did a lot of things right: 

• Worked inside business #1 for 6 months before making an offer
• Built a great relationship with the owner
• Made a good deal that made financial sense

But after a few months, the wheels started to come off and Jed ended up going bankrupt on the deal.  

Despite this, he is still optimistic on buying small businesses.  

His is a great story of resilience, grit, and how to think about risk.  

READ MORE 👁️ https://bit.ly/3EwyXcV

A Sense of Belonging w/ Mary Kreis | Ultrarunner for Team RWB's Old Glory Ultra Relay

Episode 147 features Mary Kreis and is the last in our series featuring Team RWB and the Old Glory Ultra Relay.

This was not just another endurance event—it was a bold, uncompromising statement about what it truly means to represent the entire veteran population. Team RWB’s selection of its 12-person relay team was not about assembling the fastest or youngest athletes, but about building a group that embodies the full spectrum of the veteran community: different ages, backgrounds, service branches, and running abilities. This was vital. Veterans across America are not a monolith—they are men and women in their 20s and their 90s, combat-wounded warriors and those who found purpose after service, elite athletes and those rediscovering fitness after injury or struggle. By fielding a team that mirrors this diversity, Team RWB sends a powerful message: every veteran matters, every story counts, and the journey to health and belonging is for all—not just a select few.

The Old Glory Ultra Relay was a world-record-setting, 3,000-mile gauntlet, but its real impact lies in how it unites veterans of every age and ability into one unstoppable force, proving that resilience is not limited by age or speed. This team is a living, breathing cross-section of the veteran population, showing America that strength comes in many forms. If you care about honoring service, you cannot settle for token representation or surface-level diversity. It is essential to ensure that events like the Old Glory Ultra Relay reflect the entire veteran community. Anything less is a disservice to the millions who have served and continue to seek purpose, connection, and wellness in civilian life. Let this episode challenge you: who is missing from your team, your event, your story? Representation isn’t a box to check — it’s the foundation of real impact.

Episode Sponsors:

• VM Merch
• Go Pills -- use "VM15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• BUBS Naturals -- use "veteranmade" at checkout for 20% off your order.
• True Made Foods -- use "VET" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Ruck Sox -- use "VETERANMADE15" at checkout for 15% off your order.
• Bravo Actual -- use "Veteran Made" at checkout for 15% off your order.

Intro Song composed and produced by Cleod9.

SOCIALS:

https://www.instagram.com/veteranmade.ck/

http://x.com/veteranmade.ck

https://www.instagram.com/mary.rwb/

https://www.instagram.com/teamrwb/

https://x.com/TeamRWB

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Archived Events - VetBiz Portal - VA.gov

VetBiz logo. An official website of the United States Government ... VETBIZ@VA.GOV; 866-584-2344; Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm (Eastern) ...
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